Stacking devices



April 23, 1968 w. CANNING 3,379,314

STACKING DEVICES Filed June 17, 1966 I //v1 /v TOR F 14 ,402,? 1. cxw/w/ve A T TORNE V United States Patent 3,379,314 STACKING DEVICES Walter L. Canning, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to Alex F. Walker & Associates, Inc., Royal Oak, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed June 17, 1966, Ser. No. 558,365

4 Claims. (Cl. 211-49) This invention relates to stacking devices and particularly to an adjustable stacking device for boats so that several boats may be stacked on one another in a stable pile with each boat on a level keel and exposed to view even when the bottom boat of a stack of several boats.

The handling, storing, stacking, and especially displaying of boats is diflicult and space consuming. Boats are large, irregularly shaped both inside and outside, expensive, cumbersome, heavy, and easily damaged. While an owner of a single boat may not find the incident problems exceedingly noticeable, the operator of a marina, the owner of a boat store, yacht clubs, etc., who handle anywhere from twenty five to over a hundred boats find that the storing, stacking, and displaying of boats presents problems that are diflicult to solve, space consuming, and very expensive.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is to provide a stacking device for supporting boats in a stack with the boats superposed on one another on a level keel and exposed to view so that the top and bottom of each boat is displayed to a substantial degree so that it may be seen by customers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stacking device which may be set on the floor or pavement in pairs to support the first boat and also on top of each boat, and when so supported, to in turn support the boat above in a multiple boat stack using only floor space for a single boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable boat stacking device so that the difference in width of a boat at the bow and stern and the differences in size of various boats may be accommodated so that the device is adaptable for use with any boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat stacking device which is light and strong so that it does not add apperciably to the weight of the stack itself and so that it is more than adequate to support the weight of a stack of boats.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable stacking device for boats which may be adjusted and secured in adjusted extension externally of the device thereby obviating the necessity of blind-side operations or requiring two workmen to make adjustments.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a novel boat stacking device embodying the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat supported on the stacking devices of the invention with stacking devices of the invention also positioned on the top of the boat for supporting a superposed boat with a superposed boat shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged side elevational showing of a stacking device as seen in FIG. 1, with the device adjusted in long extension.

FIG. 3 is a more enlarged side elevational showing of a stacking device as seen in FIG. 1, with the device adjusted in short extension.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the stacking device as seen from one end of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end elevational view broken away showing of a portion of the device as seen in FIG. 4 showing the adjusting, securing, and slide means in detail; and

3,379,314 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken on the line 6-6 thereof showing the combined slide bearing and adjustment nut.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the novel stacking device 10 disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprises like or identical blocks 11 and an interconnecting channel 12. Each block 11 has a base plate 14 equipped with reversely turned edges 15 and 16 Ushaped in cross-section forming an inwardly opening channel and a head plate 17 having triangulating side legs 18 and 19 equipped with feet 20 and 21 respectively lying in the channels formed by the flanges 15 and 16 respectively. The flanges 15 and 16 have an external dome 22 creating an internal dimple. The feet 20 and 21 have an impressed detent lying in the internal dimple of the dome 22. This provides a quick snap interlock between the parts and saves welding and riveting. An anti-slip and cushion pad 23 is bonded to the bottom of the base plate 14. The legs 18 and 19 have a linear series of bolt receiving apertures 24. The channel 12 has a span plate 25 and side flanges 26 and 27 paralleling the legs 18 and 19 respectively. A syntheic resin combination slide bearing and nut 28 is fixed on each flange 26 and 27, receives the nut 28 and prevents it from rotating. The nut 28 has edges overlapping the flanges 26 and 27 at the apertures holding the nut 28 in position.

An adjustable chock 30 is bolted on the head plate 17. The chock 30 may be made of inversely positioned top and bottom members 31 and 32 U-shaped in cross-section and pivotally connected by a bolt 33. An anti-slip and cushion pad 34 is mounted on bonded to the top member 32. Sand bags may be used on the blocks 11 instead of the chocks 30 or wedge blocks, bumpers, or cushions, as desired.

In manufacture, the base plates 14 and head plates 17 are formed and assembled in a block 11 and the pad 23 bonded thereon. The webs 12 are formed and the nutbearings 28 mounted thereon. The web 12 is inserted in two blocks 11 and a bolt 40 is inserted through the apertures 24 and threaded in the nut-bearing 28. In manufacture the blocks 11 and web 12 are assembled closecoupled for compactness in shipping and storage. Chocks 30 may be bolted on the blocks 11 in manufacturing and assembly.

In use, the stacking device 10 is used in pairs. The first pair is placed on the floor or pavement and adjusted in extension to lit the first or bottom boat at the bow and stern. In adjusting the linear extension only one block 11 may be extended on the web 12 if medium extension is required or both blocks 11 may be extended on the web 12 if longer linear extension is needed. In readjustments usually moving one block is suflicient to provide the necessary change in length. The first boat is then positioned on the pair of stacking devices 10. A second pair of stacking devices is then placed on the first boat 50, adjusted to the second boat, and the second boat 51 placed on the second pair of stacking devices 10. The third, fourth, and more boats are then added to the stack in like manner.

In making linear adjustment the bolts 40 are easily removed and reinserted from the exterior of the blocks 11. The blocks 11 are easily moved along the web 12 as the projecting nut-bearings provide an anti-friction sliding surface between the web 12 and the blocks 11.

The paired stacking devices 10 provide a strong, light, adjustable support for the boats. The anti-slip pad 23 prevents their sliding out of position on the angular and curving surfaces of the boats. The blocks 11 may pivot somewhat relative to each other and to the web 12 on the bolts 40 to conform to variations in floors and pavements and to the decks and seats of boats below them in a stack. Thus the stacking devices compensate for variations and thus produce a stable, safe stack obviating a wobbly dangerous stack.

The stacking devices 10 support a stack of boats so that a person may look at the bottom and interior of each boat in the stack. Yet only floor space for one boat is used.

While only a single embodiment of the invention has been, disclosed and described in detail to illustrate the invention, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail, and arrangement of the various elements of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A boat stacking device comprising a pair of blocks and a channel; said blocks and said channel being telescopically slidably disposed relative to one another for linear extension and retraction of said blocks relative to one another and said channel; each said block having a base plate, a block plate spaced above said base plate, and intermediate legs; said channel having a span plate between said block plate and said base plate and side flanges at said legs; adjustable connecting means securing said channel flanges and said legs together as located in the linear extended retracted position of said blocks and said channel; said stacking device being used in pairs to support a boat and individualy adjustable to fit the different widths of the boat adjacent its stern and bow; and an anti-skid cushion pad mounted on the bottom of said base plate.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1,

a combination slide bearing and nut fixed on said flanges of said channel at both ends thereof;

said legs having a series of apertures aligned with said nuts, and bolts leading through said apertures threaded in said nuts securing said blocks and said channel together;

said nuts preventing jamming between the parts by providing a slide surface for moving said blocks and channel linearly relative to one another.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 1, a self adjusting chock on each said block plate.

4. A boat stacking device comprising a pair of blocks and a channel;

said blocks and said channel being telescopically slidably disposed relative to one another for linear extension and retraction of said blocks relative to one another and said channel;

each said block having a base plate, a block plate spaced above said base plate, and intermediate legs;

said channel having a span plate between said block plate and said base plate and side flanges at said legs;

adjustable connecting means securing said channel flanges and said legs together as located in the linear extended and retracted position of said blocks and said channel;

said stacking device being used in pairs to support a boat and individually adjustable to fit the different widths of the boat adjacent its stern and how;

an anti-skid cushion pad mounted on the bottom of said base plate;

a combination slide bearing and nut fixed on said flanges of said channels at both ends thereof;

said legs having a series of apertures aligned with said nuts;

bolts leading through said apertures threaded in said nuts securing said blocks and said channel together;

said nuts preventing jamming between the parts by providing a slide surface for moving said blocks and channel linearly relative to one another; and

a self adjusting chock on each said block plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,332,991 10/ 1943 Commire 248-346 XR 2,810,589 10/1957 Tarleton 280-414 2,933,328 4/1960 McIntyre et al. 280-414 XR 3,091,348 5/1963 Neu'hauser 211-49 XR ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BOAT STACKING DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OF BLOCKS AND A CHANNEL; SAID BLOCKS AND SAID CHANNEL BEING TELESCOPICALLY SLIDABLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER FOR LINEAR EXTENSION AND RETRACTION OF SAID BLOCKS RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER AND SAID CHANNEL; EACH SAID BLOCK HAVING A BASE PLATE, A BLOCK PLATE SPACED ABOVE SAID BASE PLATE, AND INTERMEDIATE LEGS; SAID CHANNEL HAVING A SPAN PLATE BETWEEN SAID BLOCK PLATE AND SAID BASE PLATE AND SIDE FLANGES AT SAID LEGS; ADJUSTABLE CONNECTING MEANS SECURING SAID CHANNEL FLANGES AND SAID LEGS TOGETHER AS LOCATED IN THE LINEAR EXTENDED RETRACTED POSITION OF SAID BLOCKS AND SAID CHANNEL; SAID STACKING DEVICE BEING USED IN PAIRS TO SUPPORT A BOAT AND INDIVIDUALY ADJUSTABLE TO FIT THE DIFFERENT WIDTHS OF THE BOAT ADJACENT ITS STERN AND BOW; AND AN ANTI-SKID CUSHION PAD MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID BASE PLATE. 